LensLinks: Issue 94

A blockchain news roundup, brought to you by Regiment LLC

Author

Len Pacek
February 15, 2023

Today in LensLinks:

  • Operation Choke Point 2.0 - Is the Biden Admin Quietly Trying to Ban Crypto?

  • Fallout of crypto stablecoin regulation spills over to DeFi sector

  • ApeCoin leads in NFT and metaverse market share, but are APE’s hefty staking rewards sustainable?

  • CryptoSlate Daily wMarket Update: Bitcoin trades under 22k as market awaits CPI numbers

  • Are the “Philippines leading globally amid government drive to improve digital economy in the metaverse”?

  • Punk apes and a resurrection of NFTs

  • RETRO: A Look Back at Operation Choke Point 1.0

  • And Much, Much, More…

QUOTABLE

❝

“The Biden Administration is quietly trying to ban crypto.”

- Nic Carter, Partner at Castle Island Ventures

NOTABLE

Fallout of crypto stablecoin regulation spills over to DeFi sector

The New York State Department of Financial Services has directed Paxos to stop issuing new BUSD tokens.

www.moneyweb.co.za/moneyweb-crypto/fallout-of-crypto-stablecoin-regulation-spills-over-to-decentralised-finance-sector

Metaverse & Gaming

ApeCoin leads in NFT and metaverse market share, but are APE’s hefty staking rewards sustainable?

APE could face significant downside risk due to high token inflation and slow metaverse and gaming development.

cointelegraph.com/news/apecoin-leads-in-nft-and-metaverse-market-share-but-are-ape-s-hefty-staking-rewards-sustainable

Blockchain, Tokens & DeFi

Crypto's crisis gets existential

Following crypto’s disastrous 2022, American regulators have kicked off the new year by going on offense — a flurry of enforcement activity at the state and federal level that has intensified in recent days, raising questions about the long-term viability of the industry in its current form.

www.politico.com/newsletters/digital-future-daily/2023/02/13/cryptos-crisis-gets-existential-00082620

Crypto Trading

CryptoSlate Daily wMarket Update: Bitcoin trades under 22k as market awaits CPI numbers

Bitcoin and Ethereum’s market cap rose 0.98% and 1.52% to $421.18 billion and $185.72 billion, respectively.

cryptoslate.com/cryptoslate-daily-wmarket-update-bitcoin-trades-under-22k-as-market-awaits-cpi-numbers

Metaverse & Gaming - a little more…

Metacade Hits $6.1m Mark in Its Crypto Presale! What Potential Does MCADE Hold? | Bankless Times

The new GameFi platform Metacade continues to make headlines during its crypto presale event with news that investment has soared beyond $6.2m. This continues to build Metacade’s reputation as one of the most exciting new metaverse projects, with all presale rounds expected to sell out fast.

www.banklesstimes.com/news/2023/02/13/metacade-hits-dollar61m-mark-in-its-crypto-presale-what-potential-does-mcade-hold

Gamers Pick the Top Cryptocurrency Projects to Back in 2023

When investing in a specific sector, investment groups will typically utilize a range of different sources of information in order to be able to make an educated decision. Investors want […]

washingtoncitypaper.com/article/589346/gamers-pick-the-top-cryptocurrency-projects-to-back-in-2023

When it comes to metaverse interest, Philippines is leading globally amid government drive to improve digital economy

A recent study shows the Philippines' interest in the metaverse has grown exponentially following the pandemic; however, heightened skepticism remains a hurdle in embracing the virtual world.

coingeek.com/when-it-comes-to-metaverse-interest-philippines-is-leading-globally-amid-government-drive-to-improve-digital-economy

Blockchain, Tokens & DeFi - a little more…

Avalanche Blockchain Saw 1,500% Transactional Growth in 2022: Nansen

Such transactional activity came even as the total value of tokens locked on Avalanche-based decentralized finance applications slid from 2021’s $15 billion peak to just over $900 million in November 2022.

www.coindesk.com/tech/2023/02/14/avalanche-blockchain-saw-1500-transactional-growth-in-2022-nansen

Operation Choke Point 2.0 Is Underway, And Crypto Is In Its Crosshairs

detailing the Biden Admin's coordinated, ongoing effort across virtually every US financial regulator to deny crypto firms access to banking services

www.piratewires.com/p/crypto-choke-point

Cryptoverse: Punk apes and a resurrection of NFTs

By Medha Singh (Reuters) - It's alive! The NFT market is twitching out of its torpor, defying reports of its demise. Total NFT sales on the ethereum b...

wtvbam.com/2023/02/14/cryptoverse-punk-apes-and-a-resurrection-of-nfts

Crypto Trading - a little more…

Crypto Traders' Focus on Curve USD Stablecoin Drives Curve Token Prices Higher

Tokens related to decentralized stablecoin protocols gained in the past 24 hours following troubles at Paxos’ BUSD offering.

www.coindesk.com/markets/2023/02/14/curve-token-surges-over-10-as-crypto-traders-eye-curve-usd-stablecoin

DBS wants to facilitate crypto trading in Hong Kong as China expands the BSN to the Middle East

Singapore megabank DBS Group wants to offer crypto trading to Hong Kong residents while China’s BSN blockchain network expands to serve the Middle East.

www.kitco.com/news/2023-02-13/DBS-wants-to-facilitate-crypto-trading-in-Hong-Kong-as-China-expands-the-BSN-to-the-Middle-East.html

Retro:
A look back at how far we’ve come

With 2.0 in full swing, a look back at 1.0

The Department of Justice’s ‘Operation Choke Point’

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (2014)

www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-113hhrg91154/html/CHRG-113hhrg91154.htm

ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance)

Real Clear Crypto Leaders: ESG

The rise of blockchain and cryptocurrencies have given humanity new tools to address timeless challenges using blockchain technology. Three projects that Sarson Funds has identified as ESG leaders and explore how they align with the ESG investment framework.

sarsonfunds.com/real-clear-crypto-leaders-esg

Dear reader: You made it to the bottom. How about forwarding LensLinks to a friend or reposting/re-tweeting? Click the handy links at the top to do so easily. Thanks for reading.

Disclaimer: This note is distributed by Regiment, LLC for informational purposes only and is sourced from publicly available media reports. It is not an investment recommendation or solicitation for any investment. The information is current as of date and subject to change. In such case Regiment, LLC does not undertake to provide any updates. Recipients must be aware that any private, alternative investments discussed are speculative in nature, often illiquid, and subject to loss of capital.